Chapter 48
CEZAR
“My mom would have loved you.”
The words stumbled out, and judging by the look on Lina’s face, I probably should’ve kept them locked inside. Still… they were true. My mom would’ve adored her. Maybe that was why saying it felt like taking another bullet straight to the chest.
I wasn’t okay. Maybe I never would be. But being not okay with Lina felt like something I could survive.
“Yeah… glad I didn’t kill us. That would’ve been a dumbass way to die.” I laughed, reaching for her even though she’d already moved back to her seat. My hands were left burning with the memory of her thighs. One of these days, she wouldn’t get away with leaving me hanging like that.
“I’m glad you didn’t kill us either. Now, get driving. I’m starving. You know I need food, Cezar.” She nudged me, and I got the car back on the road.
Good thing I packed snacks. No way was she going feral on me mid-trip.
My excitement thrummed hard enough to shake me.
I couldn’t wait for her to meet the twins.
The drive had been long, and Lina slept through most of it, which I didn’t mind.
I liked watching her rest. She looked peaceful, even with her men shadowing us at a distance.
Protocol, I guess. As long as they didn’t get in my way.
I fucking wanted her. Every inch of her. And this time, I was going to have her.
“Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead.” I took the seat belt off my beautiful passenger.
Her eyes snapped open, and she shoved me back. “What the hell are you doing staring at me with your face that close? Jeez, Cezar. How long were you even like that?”
“Do you really want to know?” I laughed, grabbing the bags.
“No, I probably don’t want to know,” she retorted, her voice rising as she exited the car.
A wave of nerves washed over me. I wasn’t accustomed to this feeling, and it was certainly not something I enjoyed.
I had called ahead to let Liana and Tudor know we were on our way.
Despite my initial attempts to keep my distance from the twins, we had grown close over the years.
I’d die before I let anything happen to them.
They were my family, and they were always so welcoming. I couldn’t have found a better fit for what those two amazing little girls deserved.
Before we even made it to the steps, the door swung open. Liana rushed out and suffocated me in her arms. I hugged her back, relieved to see her.
“I’m so happy you’re here, Cezar. The girls will lose their minds when they get home. They should be here soon. And Tudor is on his way too.” She beamed, despite her knowledge of my past.
Lina’s confusion was obvious—she hadn’t expected this. A part of my world she didn’t know yet.
She turned to Lina, extending a welcoming hand. “You must be Lina. We’re excited you came with Cezar.” Then, addressing me again, she added, “I can already tell she’s good for you.” With that, she ushered Lina inside, leaving me to lug all our belongings.
Why the fuck did I pack so much shit?
When Tudor got home, I introduced him to Lina. She stayed polite but guarded. I’d talk to her later once things calmed down. Too much was happening at once, and I didn’t want her overwhelmed.
As the time for the twins’ return crept closer, I got up to hide. Lina started to trail after me, but Liana snagged her mid-step, laughing as she told her stories about the pranks I would pull here. At least it earned a smile out of her, even if she still looked unsure.
I heard the bus. Showtime.
The girls stormed in like a pair of tornadoes, dropping backpacks, kicking off shoes, and greeting their parents. They froze the moment they saw Lina on the couch, and I watched the understanding click in her expression. Their eyes widened, as if they’d seen a real-life princess.
Before they could ask who she was, I jumped out from behind the doorway, growling and flailing my arms like an idiot pretending to be a bear. They screamed and tackled me to the floor, and we wrestled until their mom broke us up.
Sometimes, I felt awkward—I wanted to be a part of a family desperately, but I struggled with the concept of normalcy.
“Girls, this is Lina. She’s Cezar’s girlfriend,” Liana announced.
Lina glanced at me, questions written all over her face, but she offered a steady handshake.
Crina and Violeta introduced themselves shyly at first, then exploded into nonstop chatter.
Every compliment they could think of, every question their little brains could generate—they hit her with all of it.
I tried to jump into the conversation several times. Every attempt crashed and burned. I’d lost them. They were hers now. Defeated, I wandered into the kitchen where Liana and Tudor were pretending not to laugh.
“Hurts, doesn’t it?” Liana said, bumping her hip against the counter.
“Sure fucking does. But I’m glad they like her,” I admitted, smiling.
Liana folded her arms and leveled me with a look. “Cezar, why’d you tell us you two were together? She didn’t exactly give me a “we’re dating” vibe.”
“Well…” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Does it count if that’s what I want to happen?”
She huffed and shook her head. “Whatever this is, you look happy. Happier than I’ve ever seen you. You deserve that. Don’t mess it up and don’t let her slip away.”
Then she slapped me on the back—harder than necessary. I hissed and rubbed the spot, glaring halfheartedly.
“I have no intention of ever letting her go,” I stated. That earned me matching worried looks, because they both knew I meant exactly what I said. Affectionately. Not… stalker-ish. Mostly.
We stayed up late, talking and laughing and eating like things were simple again. Being with the girls and Lina reminded me of what family felt like before everything fell apart. What it could feel like again.